Saturday, April 11, 2020 | 7:21 p.m.
The federal government earlier this month began assessing the Las Vegas Convention Center as a possible site for a makeshift hospital to care for coronavirus patients if the area’s hospitals reach capacity, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Saturday.
Assessors determined the mega center near the Las Vegas Strip could hold about 900 hospital beds, officials said in a statement.
As of Saturday, 62% of hospital beds, 70% of intensive care unit rooms and 41% of ventilators were being used in the state, according to Nevada’s COVID-19 website. The novel virus had infected at least 2,700 and claimed 111 lives statewide.
“The goal of these assessments is to provide (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) with options to present to the state of Nevada,” said Col. Aaron Barta, commander of the Corps’ Task Force Nevada in the statement. “We’re supporting the state’s efforts to determine how much extra capacity is needed and how best to meet that need.”
The effort is led by the White House Coronavirus Task Force, with support from FEMA and U.S. Health and Human Services.
“Their efforts will help us make decisions about how best to manage our medical resources in the coming months to beat COVID-19,” Gov. Steve Sisolak said in the statement.
Southern Nevada Health District officials on Thursday pointed to April 19 as a potential “peak” day for the number of COVID-19 fatalities in Clark County with a projection of 22 deaths.
Earlier this week, University Medical Center set up a 22-bed medical surge tent outside the hospital, with many other hospitals across the valley doing the same, said UMC’s CEO, Mason VanHouweling.
